Automatic clutch release



Feb. 22, 1938.

w. s. WRIGHT 2,109,096

AUTOMATIC CLUTCH RELEASE Filed Feb. 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ff}. M 5 75;

Feb. 22, 1938. w. s. WRIGHT AUTOMATIC CLUTCH RELEASE Filed Feb. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb 22, 1938 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH RELEASE William S. Wright, Newark, Ohio, assignor to Bendix Products Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 4, 1932, Serial No. 590,945

Claims. (01. 192-.0l)

This invention relates to an automatic clutch Referring to the drawings in detail, the refercontrol device, the primary object of the inven- -ence character 5 designates the carburetor formtion being to provide means for automatically ing a part of a motor vehicle construction. operating the clutch to hold the clutch released, The usual intake manifoldii connects with the 5 when the accelerator is in retracted position. carburetor 5, and is supplied with the usual -5 d An important objectof the invention is the throttle which is controlled by the throttle rod provision of a device of this character so con- 1 or accelerator. This throttle rod 1 isformed structed that it may be readily and easily inwith a head 8 which may have an elongated openstalled on motor vehicles, eliminating the necesing '9 into which the pin 10 of the throttle arm H 10 sity of making extensive alterations in the usual extends, permitting of slight lost motion between 10 motor vehicle construction. the throttle rod 1 and throttle arm H. The slot Another object of the invention is to provide or elongated opening 9 may be of various lengths means whereby the suction of the engine may be or eliminated entirely so that there may be no utilized for operating the clutch, thereby relievlost motion in order to compensate for the variing the operator of the exertion and strain incious degrees of openings of different clutches or 1 dent to the shifting of gears in starting or stopfor the diflerent sizes of pipe used between the ping a motor vehicle. manifold and the clutch motor element.

} Still another object of the invention is to pro- Supported under the floor board l2 of the vevide a device of the character described herein hicle, is a pivoted arm l3, that connects with the g which 15 free from at c Conditions in at t throttle rod 1 at l4,'the opposite end of the arm 20 principal operating elements cannot be affected I3 being connected with the accelerator pedal l6, by cold or freezing temperatures. with the result that movement of the accelerator A Still further Object of the invention s the pedal will result in a relative movement of the provision of means w y the Controlling arm l3, rod 1, and throttle arm, to control the mechanism may be manually operated to the end speed of th t r,

that the Clutch ay b p db the device, in The reference character I! designates a pipe Starting the Vehiclethat connects with the intake manifold 6 at a With the foregoing and other objects in view, point directly above the carburetor 5 and as which will appear as the description proceeds, the shown, this pipe extends rearwardly where it is Gil no invention resides in the combination and ar- Secured to the dash board |3 f the vehicle one angeelent of parts and the details end of the pipe being in communication with the structlon hereinafter described and claimed, it compartment '9 of the diaphragm housing It being understood that changes in the precise em-. The diaphragm, which is indicated by the refbodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may' erence character 2| closes one side of tr hous v 3;) be made within the .scope of what is claimed, mg, and, as shown, is provided with a pin 22 that a without departing from the Spmt of the mven' has pivotal connection with the arm 23 at 24 so tion.

that movement of the diaphragm 2| will result g to a i f t in a relative movement of the arm 23, for purgure s an e.eva ew a con poses to be hereinafter more fully described. a

40 vice constructed in accordance with the lnven- A su rung bracket connects with the 40 tion, and illustrating the device as installed on gff '8 of the vehicle and provides a sup 9. motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the the l g g housmg and diaphragm diaiphragm forming a part of the control mechl l i io w end :f the arm 23 curves inwardly Figure 31s a sectional view taken on line 3-3 where it is pmvided an opening through of Figure v.2. which the rod 25 extends,'the rod having pivotal Figure 4 is a View illustrating the normal posh connection with the clutch pedal 26, at 21. tions of the valves and throttle rod when the de- It is understcod that the clutch Pedal or vice is in-operation. operating'member, is connected to the clutch, 50

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the positions of not Shown in the drawings, y a Shaft and p -the valves and throttle rod, while the device is Ming mechanism 80 that any movement of h shut ofi" and not in operation. clutch pedal, or operating member, will transmit Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 l movement to Op or close he hof Figure 5. The arm 23 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 55 tion, the clutch pedal may be operated without transmitting movement to the arm 33,- it being understood that the rod 33 will move through the opening in the arm 33.

Secured-to the throttle rod 1 to mbve there with,-'is a plate 23 that depends from the rod, and, as shown, this plate 23 is provided with an elongated opening 33, into which one end of the rod 3| extends. This rod 3i extends forwardly where it connects with the valve arm 32 of the three way valve 33 so that when the rod 3| is operated, the valve 33 will operate to either establish communication between the intake manifold 6 and compartment is of the diaphragm housing, to operate the diaphragm 3|, or, moved to a position as shown by Figure 5, where the communication is cut ofl,-and the vacuum in the pipe and diaphragm housing is relieved by the air passing into the pipe through the opening 33.

A coiledspring indicated at 35 connects with the plate 29 and rod 3i, so that the spring '33 normally acts to urge the valveto a position as shown by Figure 5 of the drawings.

As theaccelerator rod 1 is moved to open the throttle, the rod 3 i will be movedsimultaneously by reason of the spring connection 35 to close the valve 33, due to lost motion in the slot 9, the throttle arm I I will not move to open until the valve 33 is closed or partially closed, thereby permitting the clutch to move to its active position before the engine is spe'eded.

When the accelerator rod moves in the opposite direction to retard the speed of the engine,

the throttle is closed in advance of the valve 33,

which does not move until the end of the slot engages the end of the rod 3| that extends through the slot.

A three way valve 33 is also disposed in the pipe line H, the arm." thereof being pivotally connected with the control rod 33 that extends through the instrument board in easy access to the operator of the vehicle.

Connected with the rod 33, is a rod'33 which has pivotal connection with the pedal 40, to the end that by operating either the pedal 33 or pulling the rod 33, the automatic clutch control device may be thrown out of operation. at will.

This valve 33 is formed with a lateral opening ll to allow air to enter the pipe between the valve 36 and diaphragm housing, to dissipate the vacuum therein.

The three-way valve 33, acts as a control valve for manual operation, and is shown in Figure 5 as in its venting position, relieving the vacuum in the diaphragm compartment I! of the diaphragm housing 20, and permitting the clutch to move to its active or clutched position regardless of the position of the valve 33. The use of the valve 36 is exceptionally important, since the operator of a vehicle equipped with a three-way valve of this character, may have complete control of the vehicle at all times, and may utilize the operation of the pistons working in their cylinders, in braking the vehicle, when moving downgrade.

In the operation of the device, assuming that the motor is-idling,it will be seen that a vacuum is created in the diaphragm housing, moving the aioaooe diaphragm 2i inwardly, causing the arm 23 to move the clutch pedal and clutch connected therewith, to its retracted or'inoperative position. 1

As the throttle rod is moved to increase the speed of the motor, the valve 33 is turrfed to a position as shown by Figure 5, whereupon the connection between the diaphragm and the manifold is closed and 'air is admitted to the diaphragm, which releasesv the tension on the arm 33, and the clutch springs thereupon close the clutch to its operative position, and move the arm 33 and the diaphragm to their original positions.

It follows that when pressure on the accelerletter pedal is relieved, the valve 33 moves to a position as shown by Figure 4 causing a suction to be created in the pipe I7, which operates the diaphragm to move the clutch to its inoperative or retracted position, allowing the'motor vehicle to glide along under its own momentum, commonly knownas free wheeling.

45 before stated, the control valve 36 must be moved to a position as shown by F'igure4 in order for-the device to operate automatically, and that by moving the valve 36 to theposition as shown by Figure 5 the automatic clutch operating mechanism may be thrown out of use,

Having thus described the invention what is claimed: Y

1. The combination in an automobile engine having an intake manifold, an accelerator controlled throttle valve connected to said manifold, and a clutch operating member, of a clutch control means comprising a flexible diaphragm open tothe atmosphere on one side and closed to the atmosphere on the opposite side'and connected to the clutch operating member, a pipe coniiecting the closed side of the diaphragm to the manifold, two valves located in the pipe and adapted to control said clutch control means, one of said valves being actuated by the accelerator to establish communication between the manifold and the closed side of the diaphragm when the accelerator is in retracted position,

through said pipe when in one position and to v close this communication and open communication between the atmosphere andthe closed side of the diaphragm when in another position,- means for actuating the valve, whichris operated by the accelerator in advance of the opening of the throttle valve, and for closing the throttle valve in advance of the actuation of this valve.

2. The combination in an automobile engine having an intake manifold, an accelerator controlled throttle valve and a clutch operating member, of a clutch control means operated by the suction within the intake manifold and connected to said clutch operating member, a pipe connecting the intake manifold with the clutch control means to subject such means to the suction in the manifold, two valves located in said pipe, one of said, valvesbeing actuated by the accelerator to open communication through said pipe when in one position, and to close this com-- for actuating the valve which is operated by the accelerator in advance of the opening of the throttle valve and for closing the throttle valve in advance of the actuation of this valve.

3. The combination-in an automobile engine having an intake manifold, an accelerator operated throttle valve, a clutch operatlngmember, a pneumatic motor connected to said clutch operating member, a pipe connecting the intake manifold with the pneumatic motor to subject said motor to the action of the vacuum within the intake manifold, a valve in said pipe also operated by the accelerator for control of the pneumatic motor, means for operating this valve in advance of the opening of the throttle valve, and means for closing the throttle valve in advance of the opening of this valve.

4. Clutch control mechanism for an automotive vehicle provided with a throttle and an accelerator, said mechanism comprising a control valve, and linkage interconnecting said valve, throttle and accelerator, said linkage including a link interconnecting the throttle and acceler-' clutch pedal and a dashboard, the latter comprising a part of the driver's compartment, power means for operating the clutch, said means including a diaphragm motor vertically mounted on the outside of said dashboard, a. curved lever member connected at one of its ends with said clutch pedal, and a connecting rod interconnecting the other end of said lever memher with the diaphragm of said motor.

WILLIAM S. WRIGHT. 

